Realised Embraced Sacrificed

Chapter 9 : The Love That Sealed The Deal

But to my absolute astonishment, there stood Kabir with his family, standing right in front of me, wearing a vibrant traditional black kurta and his eyes gleaming with a mixture of surprise and joy.

I was speechless. How did he manage to come here without me knowing?

I wished his family a happy Diwali and invited them in. As they entered, I jumped into Kabir's arms. He grinned and hugged me back.

"Is this a Happy Diwali, Meera?", I hugged him whisper.

"Yes, the best Diwali!", I replied with tears in my eyes but the brightest smile adorning my lips. "But, weren't you supposed to be on duty?"

He grinned and said,"I got permission to surprise you. And speaking of surprises..."

He pulled back and took out a small box from his pocket.

Inside was a beautiful diya, intricately carved with our initials, "K" and "M," on one side, while on another side were two words, "My Captain."

"I brought a little piece of our love to light up our celebration.", he said, his voice choking with emotion.

The diya added to my already flowing tears.

"Our initials... carved on a diya. You really went all out, didn't you?", I laughed and asked.

He smiled and said, "When it comes to you, I always will."

I took the diya and we entered inside. The rest of the Diwali was celebrated with laughter, giggles, smiles, jokes, and the sheer excitement for the upcoming wedding.

Kabir had taken leave for a month, and it began from that day.

The next few days were spent in preparing for the wedding. The final checks were done. Kabir was busier this time, trying his outfits, and managing other preparations.

Time flew by soon, and finally, the days we had long waited for came.

The first day of our wedding festivities began with our engagement, followed by lunch.

The decor for the day was a profusion of enchanting pastel hues, flowing drapes, cherry blossom trees and a heavenly arrangement of flowers. I wore a soft green and blush lehanga with beautiful emerald jewellery. Kabir wore a matching kurta.

As the day progressed, the time arrived for the traditional exchange of rings. I stood beside my parents, my heart afluttering with excitement.

The moment I had dreamed of was finally here!

I couldn't help but steal glances at Kabir, who stood handsome and composed, his eyes locked onto mine.

With the ring trays prepared, the elders exchanged words of wisdom and blessings. Then, as tradition dictated, my mother handed me the delicate ring, a symbol of the promise that awaited. As I looked into Kabir's eyes, the world around us seemed to blur, leaving only our connection in focus.

With a heart full of emotions, he extended his hand, and my hand trembled slightly as I placed the ring onto his finger. And, so did he. The loud clap of the attendees mingled with the soft strains of a love song, a serenade to our budding relationship.

As the day continued, Kabir and I found ourselves walking along the garden's edge, away from the bustling celebration. Under a canopy of flowers, we stood hand in hand, the soft glow of the sun casting a warm halo around them.

It was there, amidst the quiet rustle of leaves and the distant laughter, that Kabir spoke from his heart, his voice a soft melody of tenderness.

"Meera," he began, his gaze unwavering, "since the day we met, my life has been brighter, my dreams more vivid. This ring isn't just a symbol of our engagement, it's a testament to the love that has grown between us, a love that I promise to nurture and cherish forever."